Christopher Ward C63 Colchester Outlet

Air born: ready for anything

To become a Para is to pass one of the most gruelling induction courses in the world.

Which is why when work began on a watch inspired by the British Army’s Parachute Regiment, we knew we had to push our watchmaking teams to the limit.

The result is the extraordinary C63 Colchester. The first watch in the Military Collection to use the Sealander template – in this case, the C63 Sealander Elite – it brings together advanced material technology with the finest Swiss watchmaking.

And every element at every stage has been approved by the Parachute Regiment.

The 41mm case is crafted from tough injected carbon – and is the lightest we’ve ever made (the entire watch-head is just 38g). Like the C63 Sealander Elite, it boasts an ingenious retractable crown.This not only stops it digging into the top of your wrist when climbing, cycling or, if occasion demands, jumping out of a plane, but lets the graceful lines of the Light-catcher™ case flow without interruption.

The dial, like the case, is made from carbon, an incredibly resilient substance whose fibres lend it a ‘camouflage’ look. It plays host to ‘landing’ crosshairs that recall the Regiment’s operations, and a lume-heavy handset that contrasts perfectly with the forged carbon.

And because this is an authentic tribute, the seconds hand is precisely the same shade of maroon as found on the Paras’ iconic beret (we used an official Paratrooper’s belt to ensure the match was perfect).

The attention to detail continues on the underside. Like the other Military Collection watches, it carries a heraldic badge, but as the C63 Colchester has an exhibition case back, the treatment is different. Here, the Paras’ badge has been engraved into a ‘coin’ – placed deftly onto the backplate.

Finally, that movement. Because precision is a matter of life and death in military operations, we’ve chosen a COSC-certified version of the Sellita SW200. With a tolerance of just +6/-4 seconds per day, it’s in the top six percent of all Swiss-made watches for accuracy, while its robust, ‘anti-shock’ construction means it will brush off knocks without breaking sweat.

Sellita SW200 COSC Automatic

Designed for those who demand the highest standards of timekeeping, this Swiss-made automatic movement has been officially designated as a ‘chronometer’ by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres.

This means it has a certified timing tolerance of just -4/+6 seconds per day in a variety of temperatures and positions, putting it in the top six percent of Swiss-made watches for accuracy.